Pavel Rychagov

Pavel Rychagov (2 January 1911-28 October 1941) was commander of the Soviet Air Force from 28 August 1940 to 14 April 1941, succeeding Yakov Smushkevich and preceding Pavel Zhigarev. He was executed in the 1941 purge of the Soviet military by Joseph Stalin before and during the Great Patriotic War.

Biography
Pavel Rychagov was born on 2 January 1911 in Nizhnie Likhobory, Russian Empire. He became the commander of an aviation squadron in the Kiev Military District under the Soviet Air Force, and he was among the first volunteers from the Soviet Union to serve in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. He led 15 Polikarpov I-15 biplane fighters over Spain, with Rychagov downing 14 German planes in late 1936 with two losses. In 1937, he was promoted to Brigadier-General at the age of 26, and he volunteered to help the Republic of China in fighting against Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War. On 28 August 1940 he was given command of the Soviet Air Force after his predecessor Yakov Smushkevich was arrested, but Rychagov himself was arrested by Joseph Stalin for calling Soviet planes "flying coffins". He was executed by firing squad on 28 October 1941 during the 1941 purge of the Soviet Air Force.